Travel to Phuket - How to get to Phuket by Air, Bus, Train

By Air

This
is perhaps the easiest way to get to Phuket. Domestic airlines operate several
flights daily between Bangkok and Phuket. Some flights go to Phuket via Samui
Island with a 40-minute stopover. List of operators are as follows:

Phuket Air offers daily flights to Phuket and the journey takes only 1.20
hours. Call 02 6798999 or visit www.phuketairlines.com for more details on flights.

Bangkok Airways has daily flights connecting Phuket with Pattaya and Samui.
For more information, contact their Bangkok office at tel. 66 2265 5678. Reservations
can be made at tel. 66 2265 5555. Alternatively, browse its website at www.bangkokair.com
for more flight details.

Thai Airways International has numerous daily flights servicing the Bangkok-Phuket
route. In addition, they have regular flights connecting Phuket with Hat Yai,
Surat Thani, and Narathiwat Provinces. For more information, contact their Bangkok
office at tel. 02 628 2000 or book your seat online at
www.thaiairways.com

One-to-Go by Orient Thai operates a daily flight between Bangkok and Phuket.
The flight time is 1.20 hours. Call 1126 or visit www.onetwo-go.com for more
information.

Air Asia also offers several daily flights connecting Bangkok and Phuket.
The flight time is 1.20 hours. Visit www.airasia.com or call 02 5159999 for
reservations.

Nok Air has several daily flights between Bangkok and Phuket with a flight
time of 1.20 hours. Visit www.nokair.com or call 1318 to make your reservation.

Destination Air porvides first class seaplane transfers to and from Phuket
Internation Airport to resorts and hotels located in the Andaman sea. Popular
destinations are such as Ko Phi Phi, Krabi, Ko Lanta. Services commence in July
2006. Contact Bangkok Office of Destination Air at Tel: 0 2261 5323, Fax: 0
2261 5331 or visit www.destinationair.com

Getting to Phuket from abroad

There are several direct flights between Phuket and international destinations,
e.g. Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Penang, Singapore, and Sydney.

Phuket International Airport is located approximately 30 kilometers north
of the city, tel. 076 327230. Taxis between Phuket City and the airport costs
approximately 400 baht but the fare to the beach ranges between 500 baht and
600 baht (The rate may decline now). Minivans charge approximately 80 baht /person
to town, but 120 baht/person to Patong, Kata and Karon Beaches. Phuket Limousine
(tel. 076 248596), located approximately 1 kilometer west of the city, operates
hourly shuttles to the airport from 6.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m.

By Bus

Air-conditioned
and non air-conditioned buses leave Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal for Phuket
several times daily. Trips by air-conditioned bus, which normally leaves in
the evening, take about 13 hours.
Call 0 2434 7192, 0 2435 1199 or visit www.transport.co.th
for more information.

By Car

From Bangkok, take Highway No.4 (Phetchakasem Road) through Phetchaburi,
Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani and Phang-nga Provinces, then cross
the Thep Krasattri Bridge or Sarasin Bridge to Phuket Island. The total distance
is 862 kilometers and the travel time is approximately 12 hours.

By Rial

There is no direct train service to Phuket. Travelers arriving by train must
get off at Phun Phin Railway Station in Surat Thani Province and continue by
regular bus to Phuket. For more information, call the State Railway of Thailand,
1690, 0 2223 7010, or 0 2223 7020.

By Ferry

During
the high season, travelers may opt to get to Phuket from Ko Phi Phi and Ko Lanta
(both are in Krabi Province). Few ports in Phuket provide this service with
fares ranging between 300 bahts and 500 baht. The trip may take 1.5 to 2 hours,
depending on weather conditions.

Alternatively, motorcycles can be rented from rental agencies located on
Rasada Road or from several operators along beaches. The cost may vary from
150 baht 300 baht / day, depending on the number of cylinders.

Songthaeo and Tuk-Tuk

Songthaeos are operated along Ranong Road to several destinations on the
beaches. The cost varies from approximately 20 baht to 25 baht / person / trip.
Normally the service is provided from 7.00 a.m. until 5.00 p.m.

Tuk-Tuks can be chartered to the beach however, the rates which can be negotiated
are higher at 200 baht to Patong Beach, 230 baht to Karon and Kata Beaches and
300 baht to Nai Han and Kamala Beaches. However, Tuk-Tuks drive around the town
at the rate of 20 baht.

Taxi Meter

Visitors
can call 076 232157-8 to get a metered taxi that will take them anywhere in
Phuket. The metered fare will include a 20 baht surcharge.